Just 60 years or so ago a then unknown Ralph Lifshitz started designing and selling ties from the garage of his New York home. Paying homage to his favorite actor Lauren Bacall he changed his last name from Lifshitz to Lauren. Coincidentally it’s pronounced that way as well.
Ralph Lauren is the absolute model of dedication to self education, determination to succeed and the ability to execute. It’s kind of hard to argue that point when he has become one of recent history’s major style icon.
As such, Ralph Lauren has repeatedly taken inspiration from the automotive world to create some of the most beautiful pieces in his collections. Styling cues from the wood grain dash and interior of the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic in his personal car collection helped give birth to 2011s Ralph Lauren Sporting Wood Dial.
Considered a hallmark of elegance and quality, the inlayed Elm Burl has highly figured patterns and is quite rare and is often found in the consoles of luxury automobiles. Contrasting the warmth of the Elm is a matte black galvanized center and black calf leather strap. True to the car’s original dials, this watch displays Arabic numerals for enhanced readability. Sword-shaped hands tell the hour and minutes marked by an open railroad-style track, while the seconds are indicated by an arrow-shaped hand and closed railroad style track within the sub-dial at 6 o’clock. Bezel and dial are accented by functional screws, while the crown displays the iconic RL initials logo.
Showcasing both beauty and functionality, the Ralph Lauren Sporting Watch combines a one of a kind, sophisticated aesthetic with the precision of a manual winding movement, the caliber RL98295 made by IWC specifically for Ralph Lauren and features a power reserve of 45 hours. As with all watches in the Ralph Lauren Sporting collection, this timepiece features a sapphire crystal case back, revealing the movement’s Côtes de Genève and Perlage finish work on the plate.
Ralph Lauren Sporting Watch Technical Characteristics
Movement:
Mechanical manual winding
Manufacture movement made by IWC for Ralph Lauren
Caliber: RL98295
Frequency: 18 000 vibrations/hour (2.5 Hz)
Power reserve: 45 hours
Components: 156, including balance wheel with screws and Breguet-style spiral
Décor: Vertical Côtes de Genève and Perlage
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock
Case:
Steel, polished/brushed
Convex sapphire crystal, external and internal colorless anti-reflective treatment
Water resistance: 5 bar (~50 m)
Crown: Steel with RL initials logo
Dial:
Color: matte black galvanic, matte brown elm burl wood decoration
Shiny beige luminescent substance Arabic numerals, printed
Shiny white open railroad-style minute track, printed
Sub-dial:
Color: matte black galvanic
Shiny white closed railroad-style second track, printed
Hands:
Hour, minute: Sword-shaped hands
Color: Shiny black oxidized with beige luminescent substance
Second: Arrow-shaped hand
Color: Shiny white
Strap: Black calf, black leather lining
Buckle: Steel pin buckle, polished/brushed
Author Bio
Jonathan Gandy was born in San Jose California and raised in the DC area all his life. He dedicated himself to financial and business education through authors like Napoleon Hill, Robert Kiyosaki and Blaine Harris to name a few. He learned that the easiest and quickest way to start doing what he wanted to do was to write. An automotive journalist as well as entrepreneur, John is not only involved in journalism but also shares a passion for fine watches and automobiles. You can read more of Jon’s work at www.Up-Shift.net